Two new species of the sisorid Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreoglanis</Emphasis> Smith from Yunnan,China (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

Synopsis Two new species of the genus Oreoglanis, O. jingdongensis and O. immaculatus are described from the Mekong and Salween River basins, respectively, of Yunnan Province, China. Oreoglanis jingdongensis can be distinguished from other Oreoglanis species by the following characters: lower lip with a distinct median notch, posterior edge smooth or with indentations; caudal fin lunate and lower lobe longer than upper lobe. Oreoglanis immaculatus can be distinguished from its congeners by the following features: lower lip with a strait median notch, posterior edge with indentations; caudal fin emarginate and lower lobe about the same length as upper lobe, having no yellow patches on sides of body below adipose fin.     

A new sparid, Acanthopagrus akazakii, from New Caledonia with notes on nominal species of Acanthopagrus

A new sparid species, Acanthopagrus akazakii, is described on the basis of 12 types collected from Noumèa, New Caledonia. Acanthopagrus akazakii is most similar to Acanthopagrus berda in overall appearance but differs from the latter in having 4¹/₂ scale rows between the 5th dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, anteriormost head scales broadly rounded without small scales anteriorly, upward- and downward-oriented portions present on anteriormost part of upper lip, a downward-oriented portion on anteriormost part of lower lip in specimens over ca. 160 mm in standard length, and upper head profile gently convex from snout tip to above eye throughout growth (vs. 3¹/₂ scale rows between 5th dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, anteriormost head scales rounded with small scales anteriorly, no upward and downward portions in anteriormost upper and lower lips, and upper head profile becoming concave from snout tip to above eye with growth). Furthermore, A. berda develops a strong concavity of the ventral edge of the first two infraorbitals above the posterior part of upper jaw with growth, whereas A. akazakii has a generally straight series throughout growth. Nominal species in A. berda are reviewed, with notes on nominal species of Acanthopagrus.     

A New Species of the Genus Tor from Yunnan, China (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

A new species of the subfamily Barbinae, Tor yingjiangensis, is recognized from Yunnan province, China. It can be distinguished from other Tor species by the following combination of characters: last simple dorsal-fin ray osseous and non-serrated; no forward directed predorsal procumbent spine; head length considerably longer than body depth; no tubercles on the snout or sides of the face; 18–20 gill rakers on the outside of first gill arch; 24–26 lateral line scales; median lobe of lower lip short, its posterior margin truncate, not extending to the vertical across the inner corners of the mouth; and the condition of the lower lip consistent in individuals of different sizes. The new species has been misidentified previously as Tor putitora (Hamilton, F. 1822. An account of the fishes found in the River Ganges and its Branches. Edinburgh & London. 405 pp), which occurs in the Ganges and Indus River basins. The new species can easily be distinguished from T. putitora by having 3–3.5 (vs. 2.5) scales from lateral line to pelvic-fin origin, shorter caudal peduncle length (13.0% vs. 17.2% of standard length), lesser body depth (26.4% vs. 24.0% of standard length) and longer caudal peduncle depth (12.0% vs. 10.9% of standard length), no longitudinal stripe present along side of body, and eyes visible in ventral view of head.     

Description of a new species of Phoxinus from the upper Krka River (Adriatic Basin) in Croatia (Actinopterygii: Leuciscidae), first discovered as a molecular clade

Using morphometric, meristic and qualitative characters, we confirmed a specific status of a clade discovered based on molecular data only. The newly described species Phoxinus krkae has a very local distribution in the upper Krka River but is easily morphologically distinguished from geographically neighbouring species with much wider ranges: Phoxinus lumaireul, Phoxinus marsilii and Phoxinus csikii. Phoxinus krkae is well differentiated in statistical analyses and differs from other species of Phoxinus in northern Adriatic Sea drainages and right-bank tributaries of the middle and lower River Danube by a combination of characters, none of them unique: caudal peduncle length 1.9–2.2 times minimum depth of caudal peduncle; upper lip not projecting beyond lower lip; rostral fold absent; total number of scales in lateral series 74–84; lateral line incomplete and interrupted, commonly 17–49 (< 60% of total number of scales in lateral series) with no or few canal segments on posterior body and caudal peduncle; scales on belly extending forward to over middle of distance between pelvic-fin base and pectoral-fin origin; patches of breast scales commonly connected by scattered scales or forming 1–3 regular rows of scales; total vertebrae commonly 38–39 (22 + 17, 22 + 16 or 21 + 17). The study reveals unrecognised morphological diversity within the group and provides the groundwork for future taxonomic study in Phoxinus in the Adriatic region and the Danube Basin.     

Plasticity of ontogenetic trajectories in cyprinids: a source of evolutionary novelties

Research in evolutionary developmental (evo‐devo) biology is making an increasingly important contribution to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the establishment of complex morphological traits. Deciphering the ontogenetic trajectories leading to the differentiation of sister species (and the existence of hybrids) is a new challenge in our understanding of speciation processes. In the present study, we characterized the ontogenetic trajectory of lower lip morphology in two cyprinid species and their hybrids. Chondrostoma toxostoma has an arched lower lip and a generalist diet. Chondrostoma nasus has a straight lower lip and a specialist diet. An analysis of 99 C. toxostoma, 99 C. nasus and 25 first‐generation (F₁) hybrid individuals demonstrated that the difference between arched and straight lip morphology was found to depend strongly on the height/width ratio of the lower lip. A comparison of the ontogenetic trajectories of these morphometric traits showed that the height of the lower lip was isometric to body length in both species, whereas developmental changes involving an acceleration and a hypermorphosis of the widening of the lower lip led to a straight lip morphology in C. nasus. F₁ hybrids were characterized by an extreme phenotype resulting from a rate of lower lip widening slower than that in the two parent species. Therefore, we rejected a codominance hypothesis and concluded that the first stage of hybridization provides the foundations of evolutionary novelty. These results have important evolutionary implications because lower lip shape is linked to dietary behaviour in many fish species. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 106 , 342–355.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lockhartia viruensis</Emphasis> (Orchidaceae-Oncidiinae), a new species from Roraima state,Brazilian Amazonia region

A new species, Lockhartia viruensis, is described and illustrated from the state of Roraima, in the Brazilian Amazon, and its affinities are discussed. The new species is similar to L. imbricata, but differs by having an entire lip with an obtuse to rounded apex, a callus on the disk of the lip with a longitudinal row of papillae with a rounded apex, and the margin of the column wings entire.     

四川卧龙国家级自然保护区马先蒿属一新种——熊猫马先蒿

熊猫马先蒿(Pedicularis pandania)是在四川卧龙国家级自然保护区发现的马先蒿属一新种。该新种属于互生叶类群,其基生叶成丛,花冠属于短管有喙型,且下唇将喙包裹住,花管在近萼端发生约180度的扭旋使得花冠下唇在侧上方,这一特征明显区别于其他国产马先蒿物种。分子系统发育分析结果表明,熊猫马先蒿是Clade 7 成员,虽然与火焰系、假欧氏系、喙齿系、拟蕨系和长喙系等成员构成姐妹关系,但熊猫马先蒿的花冠形态特征明显区别于近缘物种。     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triplophysa</Emphasis> (Nemacheilinae: Balitoridae), <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triplophysa jianchuanensis</Emphasis> sp. nov,from Yunnan,China

A new loach species, named Triplophysa jianchuanensis, has been recognized in collections from Jianchuan in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan, China. Triplophysa jianchuanensis can be distinguished from the other Triplophysa species by the following combination of characteristics: smooth skin, scaleless; lateral line complete; head long (26.7–29.8% of SL); eyes large (25.9–31.0% of dorsal head length); snout shorter than postorbital length (26.9–30.1% of HL); middle of lower lip interrupted and forming a pair of furrows; lower jaw spoon-like with obtuse edge; posterior chamber of air bladder completely degenerated; intestines short, bending in zigzag-shape behind stomach; pelvic-fin tip not reaching anus; caudal fin emarginate; branched rays of dorsal fin 7; branched rays of caudal fin 16. A key to the known species of Triplophysa from the Lancangjiang River is provided.     

Salvia petrophila sp. nov. (Lamiaceae) from north Guangxi and south Guizhou,China

Salvia petrophila G. X. Hu, E. D. Liu & Yan Liu, a new species from the Chinese provinces of north Guangxi and south Guizhou, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to S. miltiorrhiza, but can easily be distinguished by its shorter, unbranched stem, subsucculent simple leaf, longer pedicel and corolla tube, oblong‐entire middle lobe of lower corolla lip and larger oblate pollen. It is included in S. sect. Drymosphace on the basis of its falcate‐compressed upper corolla lip and connivent posterior connectives. Trichome and pollen micromorphology of the new species and similar species are described and compared. Additionally, assessment of the conservation status, current geographical distribution and notes on ecology of the new species are given.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balitora</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Balitoridae) from Guangxi,China

A new species of the hillstream loach genus Balitora Gray, Balitora ludongensis, from Qilong River which drains to Zuojiang River (a headwater of the Pearl River) drainage, Jingxi County, Guangxi, China. It can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral fin with vi–vii, 11–12 rays; pelvic fin with ii, 6–7 rays; pre-oral groove relatively shallow, upper lip without or with 3–5 fold-like papillae in a row on its middle surface and gradually smooth to the corner of mouth; two maxillary barbels at each corner of mouth, the outer one slightly longer than the inner one, 149.0–190.9% of eye diameter; eyes small, eye diameter 14.2–18.1% of head length; Dorsal-fin origin slightly anterior to pelvic-fin origin; Caudal-peduncle depth 39.1–55.0% of its length; upper lobe of caudal fin longer than the lower one; lateral-line scales 69–74; with 6–9 black blotches on the dorsal side of body.     

广西报春苣苔属一新种及其系统位置(英文)

报春苣苔是一类生长在石灰岩基质上的多年生草本植物,目前已知的种类160余种,主要分布在我国南部和越南北部的石灰岩地区。该属植物许多种类分布极其狭域,往往仅零星分布在某个或少数几个地点。近年来,该属植物许多新种类不断地被发现和报道,预示着该属植物可能有更加丰富的多样性。该研究报道了在广西博白县发现的该属植物一新种。从形态上判断,该新种属于广义报春苣苔属,其具有的一些特别的形态特征,如花冠下唇比上唇长得多,上唇内部具有两个近圆形斑点(其它多数种类具有条形斑点),而易于与本属其它物种区分。而且,基于叶绿体mat K基因序列重建的系统发育关系表明,该新种的确属于报春苣苔属且广义报春苣苔属是单系类群。该新种与钟冠报春(P.swinglei)和疏花报春(P.laxiflora)最为近缘,其mat K基因与后两者分别有5个和11个碱基差异,暗示这些物种间经历了较长时间的独立演化或mat K基因在这些物种中具有较高的碱基替换速率。另外,该新种只生长在丹霞岩石上,而其近缘种以及同属大多数其它种类都生长在石灰岩基质上,暗示该新种获得了特殊的适应能力以及与其它近缘种间存在生态隔离。该新种以及近年来本属许多其它新种类的发现,进一步增加了对该属植物多样性的认识,以及该属植物的演化与多样性分化之谜。这些物种所具有的高度区域或局域特有性和稀有性,以及形态上的特殊性和遗传上的独立性,进一步强化了对该属植物开展保护的重要性。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Strobilomyces verruculosus</Emphasis> sp. nov. from Japan

A new species, Strobilomyces verruculosus, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically distinct from other species of Strobilomyces by having a verruculose pileus with small subpyramidal scales, a long and thick stipe with small warty to appressed scales, subdecurrent tubes, and incompletely reticulate basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (cox3) gene support that it belongs to the genus Strobilomyces and is highly differentiated from the other members of this genus found in Japan.     

Rhinacanthus spiciformis,a new species of Acanthaceae from northern Vietnam

Rhinacanthus spiciformis Y. F. Deng, Z. L. Lin & D. V. Hai, a new species from northern Vietnam previously misidentified as R. calcaratus is described and illustrated. This new species differs from all other Asian species of Rhinacanthus in the inflorescence being unbranched or comprised of trifurcate-branched spikes, and the lower lip of corolla with conspicuous purple stripes near throat and on lobes. The pollen morphology and chromosome number are presented. It is proposed to be accessed as Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN categories and criteria.     

Squamatological differences between two closely related flatfish species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleuronichthys</Emphasis> (Pleuronectidae,Pleuronectiformes), with a proposal of unambiguous distinctive characters

Squamation and scale morphology were examined in two closely related species, Pleuronichthys cornutus and P. japonicus, in order to establish the unambiguous characters to clearly separate the two species. Scale counts on the lateral body surface were also examined, with new count definitions proposed. Both the longitudinal and vertical scale rows followed essentially regular patterns in P. cornutus, whereas the longitudinal scale rows were occasionally irregular in P. japonicus. Scales were basically fan-shaped and oval in P. cornutus and P. japonicus, respectively, although considerable variation in scale shape was apparent in both species. The blind side scales of P. cornutus had sharp posterior margins, whereas those of P. japonicus had round ones. Scale length (scales on the ocular side, area above the lateral line) in P. japonicus was relatively greater than in P. cornutus, a plot of total length versus scale length separating the species completely. Measurements of many ocular side scales from the area above the lateral line indicated high intraspecific variance in both species, being particularly prominent in P. cornutus. Nevertheless, considerable scale measurement differences were found between the two species in some body areas, supported by principal component analysis. Longitudinal and vertical row scale counts were higher in P. cornutus than in P. japonicus, with the ranges of central longitudinal scales (88–103 vs. 75–86) and scales below the lateral line counts (59–74 vs. 47–57), respectively, not overlapping between the species. The scale count difference could be caused by the difference of the scale size between the two species. The study demonstrated that the two Pleuronichthys species can be readily distinguished on the basis of scale morphology and size, in addition to scale counts.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Miconia walterjuddii</Emphasis> (Miconieae: Melastomataceae), a new species from Cuba

Miconia walterjuddii, a new species of Melastomataceae from the mountains in northeast Cuba, is described. This species can be easily assigned to Miconia section Chaenopleura due to its short anthers that open by two longitudinal slits. Sequence data from nrITS confirm this placement. This new species is characterized by its inconspicuous lepidote indumentum of minute adpressed scales ca. 0.05 mm long; small flowers in dichasia, forming a compact, many-flowered, rounded to subcorymbose cymes, with purple to fuchsia colored petals.     

Pseuderanthemum pubescens sp. nov. (Acanthaceae) from Thailand

Pseuderanthemum pubescens T. Choopan & P. J. Grote, a new species from southeastern Thailand is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from P. longistylum J. B. Imlay by leaves being pubescent instead of glabrous and by the corolla lobes being purple with reddish purple dots on all 5 lobes instead of dotted on lower lip only.     

Cephalanthera humilis sp. nov. (Orchidaceae) from Yunnan,China

Cephalanthera humilis X. H. Jin, a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is closely related to C. calcarata but differs from it by having an entire lip without spur at base and the stigma on top of the column.